(a) Whenever any person lawfully possessed of a chauffeur's or driver's license theretofore issued to him or her by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Alabama, or under the laws of any other state or territory, or the District of Columbia of the United States, shall be arrested and charged with any violation of any traffic ordinance of any incorporated municipality, for which under the provisions of such ordinance the arresting officer is directed to take a written bond, he or she shall have the option of depositing his or her chauffeur's or driver's license so issued to him or her with the arresting officer or the clerk of the district court or municipal court, in lieu of any other security which may be required for his or her appearance in the district court or municipal court in answer to such charge lodged in such court.

(b) If such person arrested elects to deposit his or her license, as herein provided, the arresting officer or clerk of the district court or municipal court shall issue such person a receipt for said license upon a form furnished or prescribed by the municipality, and thereafter said person shall be permitted to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state during the pendency of the case in which the license was deposited, unless his or her license or privilege is otherwise revoked, suspended, or cancelled.

(c) The clerk of the court in which the charge is lodged shall immediately forward to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Alabama the license of the driver which was deposited in lieu of bail if the driver fails to appear in answer to the charge against him or her. The Director of Public Safety shall, upon receipt of a license so forwarded by the clerk, suspend the driver license and driving privilege of the defaulting driver until notified by the court that the charge against such driver has been finally adjudicated.